Air date: November 13th, 1995 (UK)
Adapted from: Branch Line Engines, "Bulls Eyes"
Toby's cowcatchers and sideplates are designed to prevent animals from getting hurt if they stray onto the line, but Daisy thinks they look ridiculous and believes that Toby is simply afraid of getting hurt himself. She tells Toby that any animal, even something as big as a bull, will always run away if she toots her horn and looks them in the eye, despite Toby's insistence that they will not. Later that day, Daisy is asked by a policeman to guide a stray bull back to his farmer. She sets off, eager to prove to Toby that she can handle bulls, despite the fact she has never actually encountered one before.
Although not really very fierce, Champion the bull had been cross that morning, which resulted in him jumping the fence and sliding down the valley onto the line. Just as he begins to eat the nearby grass, Daisy arrives and toots for him to move. Despite several attempts, Champion ignores her and continues eating. Eventually, he notices Daisy and advances curiously towards her. Daisy becomes unnerved, as the bull is not running away as she expected him to. Her driver tries to insist that Champion is harmless, but Daisy is worried that she might be hurt (though she tries to hide this). Champion then sniffs at Daisy. This proves to be the last straw as Daisy retreats back to the station.
Toby soon learns about what happened and after reminding a now silent and embarrassed Daisy that a bull should always run away according to her, goes to shoo Champion away himself. Although Toby's bell and whistle prove ineffective against the still-grazing bull, he eventually retreats after Toby blows steam at him and reunites with the farmer further down the line. Later that evening, Daisy feels exhausted but glad that her work is over. Some boys at the platform tease her with some "Bulls Eyes" sweets. Annoyed, Daisy shrugs off the joke and leaves to rest in her shed.
Tropes featured in the episode:
- Continuity Nod: The narration reminds the audience of Toby's cowcatchers and sideplates made to keep animals from getting hurt if they stray on the line as learned from "Thomas in Trouble".
- Disneyfication: This episode omits two scenes from the book.
- The first is where Champion is taken away from the field to a lorry before he finishes his breakfast. As he stubbornly refuses to get in the vehicle, the men try to force him in by pushing, prodding and slapping him before he breaks away.
- Second is after Toby manages to round up Champion, Daisy occasionally passes by Toby and Percy on her journey whom both give her pitying looks which angers her.
- The Freelance Shame Squad: The boys teasing Daisy.
- Jerkass: Daisy.
- Miles Gloriosus: Daisy claims that she can handle bulls, but upon meeting one, she proves unable to get it off the railway line.
- Put on a Bus: Zig-Zagged. This was Daisy's last appearance until Calling All Engines, which was also her only appearance until she returned in Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure.
- Series Continuity Error: Despite its placement in the fourth series, this episode takes place between "Daisy" and "Percy's Predicament", as the narrator said Daisy had never met a bull.
